FEATURES

Eric Forrest is perhaps best known as the former frontman of legendary French Canadian metal pioneers Voivod, having come aboard to replace founding vocalist Snake in 1994 for the Negatron album. Since leaving the band in 2001 to make way for Snake’s return, Forrest has kept himself busy with E-Force and Project: Failing Flesh, two bands that keep Voivod’s Forrest-era sound alive. In spite of this, however, Forrest recently made a brief return to the Voivod camp, although the circumstances were anything but favourable. On August 26th guitarist Denis “Piggy” D’Amour passed away due to complications arising from advanced colon cancer, a loss that his bandmates, past and present, will be feeling for quite some time. Upon completion of the vocals for the upcoming Project: Failing Flesh album, Forrest was kind enough to sit down with BW&BK and discuss the loss of a good friend and, in many people’s eyes, a musical genius.
“An old friend of my wife’s who now lives in Montreal called us and told me to call Chase, who has been a very close friend of Voivod for many years,” Forrest begins.”He told me the news and I was in complete shock. I was told before it was announced in the press because we had a relationship for about seven years or so and Chase thought I should know. I’m doing alright considering what has happened, but I’ve had many thoughts about Piggy for quite some time now. Good moments and sad ones, too. It’s very hard to describe because Piggy is the only person I’ve been close to that has passed away, so it’s a new experience for me. Away (drums) and Snake? Well, they’re very strong people let me tell you, (original bassist) Blacky too, though I can’t imagine their emotions at this point.”
Sadly, Forrest was unable to see Piggy before he passed away.
“I didn’t see Piggy before he passed away, though from what I was told he was surrounded by family and close friends before he slipped into a coma and passed on. The funeral service was very organized. Family and close friends were very strong and supportive of one another. However, I feel that some things should just remain private out of respect. After the service there was a guitar burning tribute. I think it was Snake’s and Away’s idea, sort of like a Viking ritual. A guitar with everyone’s signature and farewell notes was set on fire and sent down the river. It didn’t travel too far, so Snake grabbed it and everyone walked to the top of a bridge to join all the others who were present at the service and did the ‘One, two, three, VOIVOD!’ all in unison and let the guitar fly. Quite an emotional moment as everyone present loved Piggy.”
Asked for his thoughts on Piggy as a person, Forrest offers the following:
“Piggy was a very unique individual. When I joined the band back in ’94 I couldn’t believe how such a professional musician could be so down to earth and humble. One of the coolest individuals I’ve ever met. I lived and learned a lot from him – and Away – and will treasure those memories forever. He was kind of like an older brother to me. He shared his experience and spirit in such a guiding way. I had many good, funny, ‘high’ moments and experiences with him. Even after, when I wasn’t in the band anymore, he was still very cool with me when I would see him around town.”
“I remember one particularly memorable moment was when we were in Holland playing the Dynamo Festival back in ‘96. Away was setting up his drums on one of the risers, Piggy and I were behind the backline, and I realized that we had no guitar tuner. It was so Spinal Tap. I said to Piggy, ‘Dude we don’t have a tuner…" He says, with a big grin, ‘Yeah, I know’ and he starts laughing. I walked to the side of the backline and look at about 10,000 people in the pouring rain waiting for Voivod to start. I went back to Piggy and said ‘What are we going to do?’ and with a bigger grin on his face, laughing even more hysterically, he says ‘I don’t know.’ Most bands would be freaking - I must admit I was a bit tense - but Riffmaster P. was cool as fuck. Not even worried, like he would tune the guitars by ear or something. Anyway, at the last second the Galactic Cowboys tech passed us their tuner. Very funny experience. Those that knew Piggy know what I mean when I talk about the cartoon character personality he had at times. Fucking priceless.”
Life must go on, of course, and for Forrest that meant laying down vocals for the next Project: Failing Flesh album, The Conjoined, mere days after Piggy’s funeral. He admits that Piggy’s death didn’t affect his mindset as much as people might expect.”
“After the funeral I went to Virginia to do the vocal tracks on the P:FF record and we did talk about Piggy and Voivod, obviously. When tracking I just did what I had to do, so it wasn’t that distracting. If anything I wanted to really kick ass and do a good job, as I’m sure Piggy would have expected of his old bandmate.”
As for E-Force, Forrest says the band is still around in spite of rumours to the contrary.
“E-Force has kind of been on hiatus since the last tour due to personal and professional reasons. However, next year I’ll begin recording a new record with a few new surprises. Stay tuned.”